Makeup can often become a cluttered and disorganized mess. If you find yourself spending more time digging than you do applying makeup, you should keep reading for great tips to organize a makeup kit for your daily use as well as one for those special events.

Steps

1

Take time to find a large area where you can spread the materials that you are going to use. This isn't a project to rush through.

2

Take out all of your makeup and skin care products and go through them. These are some of the most common items in a make up kit:

Neutral and complimentary colors that can be used everyday should be put in your everyday pile.

More exotic and dramatic colors can be added to your special occasion collection.

Eyeliner is used on the edges of your eyelids closest to your eyes and just below the eyes.

Powders can set your foundation and prevent it from wearing off as fast.

Look for a good shade of lipstick and/or lipgloss to include in your kit. Find something that coordinates with the other products you plan to use daily. See tips for colors choices.

Consider a bronzer to add additional color to your face. This is great during the summer time to give the appearance of a tan without the sun damage. This may be a daily, seasonal or special occasion item depending on the frequency you use it.

3

Evaluate what you wear daily and what you don't. Consider what you have time to apply and what is only used for special events. Be prepared to have 5-6 piles before you're done. Gather your items into piles including:

Daily wear

These are your basic colors that match almost anything you wear with the coordinating lipstick. Keep it simple unless you want to carry a suitcase around every day.

Skin care

This includes your moisturizers, makeup removers, serums, sunscreens, acne treatments, etc. You can also include cotton balls, q-tips, etc.

Removal of makeup may be necessary if you travel, play sports or just don't like having make up on all day. To save space, buy a package of pre-moistened face cleansing cloths.

Special occasion

This includes more dramatic colors, infrequently worn colors, products you purchased to match special outfits, wild colors used for Halloween, shimmer powder you wear out to clubs, false eyelashes or anything else you rarely wear.

Seasonal (optional)

Tanning can cause your skin tone to vary from season to season. People who tan often have different foundation and powder shades they use in the summer. If you tan during the summer you may need to make an additional pile for your darker summer colors (or tan free winter colors).

4

Dispose of anything that is old, broken or causes irritation. If it's old, you should get rid of it. Old makeup collects bacteria, separates and may flake off or not apply as well. Here are some general guidelines for how long you should keep an item before disposing of it:

Three Months

Mascara

Liquid Eye Liners

Six months

Eye foundations

Eye creams

Eye bases

Cream eye shadows

Any other cream or gel based item for eyes

Face Powders which have had brushes or sponges in contact with the product.

Foundations that are cream or pancake

One Year

Liquid foundations

Moisturizers

Concealer used on face providing it is in a tube and does not have an applicator.

Pack nail polish and remover in your daily kit if you do daily or frequent touch ups. Otherwise, put it in a nail kit and store elsewhere.

6

Look at your make up application tools. Are they sufficient? Dirty? Floating around in the bottom of a drawer or bag? These become dirty and bacteria filled quickly. Toss out any used sponge applicators that came with the makeup and invest in good washable brushes. Dispose of any dirty foundation sponges and powder puffs. By using clean brushes you can extend the life of your makeup by eliminating the amount of bacteria and oils you are introducing into it. Brush kits and brush bags are usually sold at mall makeup counters and makeup stores. The brush bags will keep your brushes organized, protect the brush ends from bending and keep your application tools clean. Here are the most popular applications tools:

Foundation brush or a wedge sponges

Powder brush

Blush brush

Large shadow brush

Small or angled shadow brush

Lip brush

Concealer brush

7

Clean application tools as needed. Clean eye liner by rubbing an alcohol soaked cotton ball over the pencil and sharpening the tip completely. Clean brushes in antibacterial soap and rinse until they are clean. If your brushes look tangled, deformed or if they are so full of makeup you don't have to actually add make up each time, you need to dispose of those and start fresh.

8

Examine your piles and try to gauge what size bag you will need. If you don't have something big enough or with the necessary pockets you should start shopping. It's always better to go with something slightly larger than something too small.

9

Go shopping at a local drug, beauty supply, department or discount store and browse for makeup bags or kits. Make sure it can hold everything you plan on putting into it including your brush bag.

Train cases are usually hard side and have extending shelves for organization. These can be heavy and bulky but protect well.

Bags vary in size and construction. Look for something made for makeup as it will probably have an interior that will wipe clean, zip closed to avoid spilling and have padded or quilted exterior to offer extra protection.

Small tackle boxes are usually larger than the train cases, less expensive and great for organizing a lot of makeup. This is an excellent product for special occasion makeup as you can easily see what you have available. Since you don't wear it all the time it's easy to forget what you have.

If you don't carry your make up with you and only apply it at home you can use a basket or drawer to store your daily makeup.

10

Use the plastic storage with shelves under your sink or in the closet to store all but your daily makeup. Keep the daily kit easily accessible.

11

Organize your makeup into the appropriately sized bags or kits.

12

Store what you don't use daily in its own bag or kit based on the categories above.

13

Put your brushes in their own bag or kit to keep them clean and protected and put this in your daily bag or kit.

14

Pat yourself on the back! Your makeup is organized and you should be on your way to a less stressful and efficient make up routine.

Community Q&A

This very broad question has no single answer. It absolutely depends on what look you're going for and which so-called flaws you're targeting. For example, if you have bad skin, get concealer. If you want to add a little color, lipstick and mascara are great first options.

Yes, but you will only be limited to whatever colors are in that kit. For a truly personalized kit (one that matches your skintone and compliments your eyes, lips, etc) you will need to put one together yourself.

It depends on what foundation you use and how naturally you apply it, and it depends on the person. There's always some chance that someone will be able to tell, but most people won't notice if you use a good-quality foundation in the right shade, use only a thin layer, and blend it well.

You could use the bags they came in, stand them in a container or mug, or place inside any other clean container or bag you have. Brush bags are not essential, they're just one more way to get money from you. Think about what you already have in the house that would work just as well and use that instead. Or sew your own.

If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.

Tips

A really good Makeup Organization kit is Caboodles. It pops out 6 shelves for storing makeup and it has a huge, spacious bottom below the six shelves. Be sure to store your brushes outside of the Caboodles, unless you're traveling!

Use smaller bags to organize your big bags. This is a great way to use the tiny bags that are often gifts at makeup counters. Use little bags to divide your eyes, lips, etc.

If you have a lot of new products, samples or gift with purchase items that don't match your skin color or type you can arrange a trade with a friend or family member.

Another place to buy applicator brushes is at art supply stores. Look for good quality, and appropriately sized, natural hair brushes. These will last longer and shed less. Wash any new brush before your first use and if bristles seem dry use a dab of conditioner, then wash out.

If you use a different palette every day, toss the colors in your purse before you go out.

With quality products, buy them from the same manufacturer - do not mix and match different brands. Skin products (cleanser, moisturizer, foundation, etc.) are formulated to work with one another. Mixing can create a chemical stew that harms the skin that you're trying to protect.

Use your own criteria to separate your makeup. If you don't have lots of extras this is a great way to narrow down what you use daily for ease of use.

If you need a large space and you don't care what your kit looks like then you could buy a working tool kit-like what your dad might have that he keeps his tools in.

Organizing your makeup in color is also very useful.

Warnings

Never share your makeup, brushes or sponges with friends. If you must you should immediately clean them before using again. The bacteria and oils from their skin will contaminate your product and your skin causing break outs.

Make up can often break or leak. Look for bags that zip or seal so a leak or break won't ruin everything else.